Vehicle seat adjustment and lock



Nov. 16, 1943. H. v. HEDEEN ETAL VEHICLE SEAT ADJUSTMENT AND LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1940 v (V ====EEE5 m 5 VH M 3 1 mw M Nov. 16, 1943.

H. V. HEDEEN ETAL VEHICLE SEAT ADJUSTMENT LOCK Filed May 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 grvum m Henry V. flea e672 Cari Heaeen Patented Nov. 16, 1943 a i 5 2,334,193 v a. v I VEHI LEs nraDJUsTM NTnNDLoo t Henry V. HedeenandCarl Hedeen, Detroit; Mich v assignors; to ;D ivc o-Twin Truck Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ,7 Ap u ationr ayia194 seria1N0.3s4;92 i

3C laimsa; (si ma-95) This invention relates to vehicledrivers seats and is more particularly concernedwith mecha nism supporting such seats. I v. It is a major object of the invention to is capable of being positioned so as to be available 7 provide a novel shiftable drivers seat'for a vehicle'which for immediate seating of the driver as soon as he entersthe vehicle, and which becomesautornatically locked in a stationary position when moved to face the vehicle controls. Specifically-,ythis arrangement is desirable in a delivery vehicle having a low level entrance floor and wherein the pedal controls for the vehicle arelocated at an elevated floor. 1 a

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drivers seat swingably or otherwise shiitably mounted on a pedestal within the' body of a vehicle with novel mechanism for automatically f locking the seat to the pedestal whenthe-former is swung or shifted to face-the vehicle controls.

Preferably the locking mechanism also frictionally maintains the seat temporarily in othertpositions duringits normal rangeiof movement on the pedestal.

A further object of the inve ntion i'sto provide a novel drivers seat supporting mechanism for a.

vehicle wherein the seat supporting mechanism is secured directly to the chassis .by-a special bracket. Preferably thisbracket is attachedto one of the main longitudinal frame rails,

"A further object of the invention is to provide novel; sturdy but simple and economical mechanism for rotatably supporting a vehicle seat. Preferably this mechanism is'provided with areleasable device for automatically locking the seat facing the vehicle controls.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a novelvehicle seat support'whereinthe seat is rotatively supported upon a vertically adjustable stationary pedestal and releasable means comprising a spring loaded and cam controlled locking rod is provided for locking theseat tathe,

pedestal when a predetermined position of rota; tion of the seaton the pedestal has been reached;

Preferably the lockingrod has'a handle conven intly accessible to the seated driver.

Further objects of the invention will presently 'LFigure 2" is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of Figure i and also illustrating the special bracket for supporting theudrivers seat assembly directly on the chassis beneath the vehicl'zfloor; j

Figure 3 is aside elevation of the? seat support assembly of Figure 2, illustrating especially the mechanism for vertically adjusting the seat as to; the dotted line'position of Figure 2. i

Figure ljs a top planview of the seat support assembly" illustrating especially the camiand spring controlled "locking rod'for securing the seat base to the pedestal;

Figure 5 is a section takenalong' line 5 -5" oijj Figure 4; i11ustratingth'e'camface which controls the movement of the locking rod;

Figure 6' is a fragmentary elevation partly in section and partly cut-away, illustrating further the shape "of the cam which controls the seat locking rod.' k v, c r i Figure '11s a plan'view partly, in section illustrating a further embodiment of my cam and spring control locking rod mechanism;

Figure 8 is a section'illustratingthe'cooperating camformations on theseatbase andlocking rod, of Figure '7; and V 1 A Figure 9 is a side elevationof the deviceof Figure 7, with the locking rod handle rotated through a quarterof a turn.

Figure 1 iilustrates our novel seat SU-P Dortassembly mounted in a sitting-drive delivery vehicle of the type wherein a box-like body l l extends over and houses substantially the whole chassis including the wheels and forwardly disposed motor. 7

Body Il'is provided with a forwardlydisp osed side doorway-l2 extending from theroof to a low appear as the description proceeds in connection with the'appended claims and annexed drawings in which:

"Figure 1 1s a'fragmentary perspective view of the front end of a delivery vehicle embodying the novel seat assembly of the invention; partiall cut away to show the seated driverat th controls; V. l

level "floor. l3 inside the body and located substantially only a=sing1e short step above the level of theground uponwhich the vehicle wheels'restn Floor i3. extends inwardly to a vertical riser panel l4'= adjacent the longitiidinalfframe rail of,tlie chassis at that side. The rear edgeof doorway i2 and'the rear edgeof panel 14 are. connected by avertical-panel l5, and theiront edge of the doorwayfis connected tothe front end of panel Htby avertical-panel (not-shown) similar t0 panel 15. These three vertical panels and floor I 3 define a step Well which is of standing height clearance and enablesthe-driver to -enter and stand wholly inside the body without bending and with a minimum of effort; A similar, and preierably identical, side doorway and step t well' arr'ang'ement is provided at the opposite side of the body. Suitable doorsare provided for closing each doorway.

333,661 filed May 6, 1940.

adjustment in the socket but maintained against rotation therein, and a seat base .25 which is rotemp rises a pair or spaced mated elements 26.

{ tomi surface ofj'floor '16 below the floor socket and meats 2.57--

Between the step wells, ametal body floor l6 elements 26 fastened to bracket 28, the upper ends of elements 26 arepulled toward each other and deformed sumciently to clamp against foot portion 35and retain it against vertical displacement in the socket. i

Integral internal ribs 40 are provided for reenforcing' and bracing the pedestal casting to prevent deformationwhen nuts fi 2 and H3 are tightg ened;

'By'the above construction, pedestal 24 may be maintained at any position of vertical adjustment within the range of slots as and 31. Ribs 41 not A drivers seat 22, which maybe of any 's'uitable construction is rotatably and verticallyead-ljustably supported above floorilfi in align 8 with theabove described vehicle controls. f Our novel seat support comprises generally a floor socket 23, a pedestal 24 mounted for vertical ta'table on the pedestal. Seat 22 is securely jf as tenedto seat base 25 in a suitable manner. a Referring tejri'gu'reez and 11001 socket 23 formed with outwardly flaring bottom flanges 21 whichgr'est on fthe uppe'r surface of floor IS. A

' special integral channeled bracket 28 is provided wi'th'a bridge portion 2'9 backed against thevbote a pairjer ihturndinie raliiangestt' and3l designf'edfto restfiush on 'the,upper surface of the i left l'ohg itl'ldina1- frame rail 3 2 of the chassis; Bracket 28 issecured to nan 21, as by Tal lui rality of bolts 33fwhich bfissl'through suitable'apere are rigidly secur'e'd, 'asby bolts 34,"to rail 32. 'l'he' above construction insures that the "seat siocketfis rigidly and solidly 'sli'pportd directly uponthe chassis The bracket also braces fioor l6, and other suitable braces (not shown) may be 'prbvid'e'd betwnfloor'"l 6falid "the chassis "as desired.

Socket elements 126 'are internally "channel shaped ahdgwhenbolte'd to thebr'acke't as illustrated iirFi'gures 2-and *3, cooperate to define *a' sturdy open-top rectangular socketo f substantial size upstandingfrom floor-Phi i "'Pede's'tal 2 4- 'is prefera ly a I hollow but rigid integral metal tube forni'edat itsloiwer errdwith a"tubular rectangular foot 35 which-is of such size a's-tofit-slidablywitl iin-so'oket-23; 0bv-iously soek et--=26 =-'and -fobt-35 can be of any desired shape; other thamrectangular; it being: desirable only that the -foot be sildablybutnon-rotatably fittedwithin the socket. I

r.-At opposite sides, rectangular foot iportion 535 is provided withv pairs of spaced vertically'elongated slots36 and 31 which are'la-terally aligned withipairs-lof bolt receiving apertures 38 and :33,

respectively, in the upper portionsof socket ele- 6 1130 2 p 0ie lthii s Q S n ure 39 i and terminates in a threaded portion carrying a suita le 1mm. Breferabiy b lt. s squared; 6

' fiiiieheadat 3 t t mnero a b g ith n h imila ys a dad acent ape ture; A simi ar bolt d l having its head portion squared at 45 proie ts. h u h l t .3 nd apertures 38 m carri a erm'i a 'nutfifi, g a e 7 As shownin Figure 3, socket elements 2 6 are p efer l forme i nt rn onta end i s!!! w m ma e hined r und t he nt u Q 'fOQ -35- v,

raw-hen huts; and a e t s i ez e i thsc et only guide iootportion during assembly of the seat but fit closely enough to the foot to prevent it from rockingin the socket during operation of t e vehicle. I

Above foot iporti'on' 35; the pedestal is formed with-an upstanding'centrally located integral hollow cylindrical post 43 whose lower end is surrounded by an annular shoulder 39 having a flat horizontal annular thrust facev 5 I. 'The outer-cylindrical surface of post 48 and i-face 5i are'pre ferab ly machined to make them absolutely smooth,

andpost- 48 is provided with a radial aperture-53 for-a purpose later to-be described. I I

Post 48 and thrust -f ace- 5i i provide bearing sin faces for rotatably supporting seat base 25 on the pedesta -1. ,i'seat base 25 is formed witha rigid tubular centralsleeve S L preferabIy of the same lengthas post 48, whioh'fits rotatably upon post 43 with its lower end face resting on thrust face 51.; Post- 13 8 and sleeve54 areysufiiciently, long and ;of su-iilcient strength toavoid distortion of merit with ham 'ite ee 6'2.

the pedestal by reason of any turning'iorces 'occasionedby-weight of the driver and seat.

- hollow conical-shape'd Web 55, integral with v sleeve 54; ext-ends laterally. and upwardly there- I from from a epdintadjacent thrust face 51am: terminates in a fiat 'horizontal .plate portion 1'56,

1 the upper: surface "of which is preferably flush with the upper edges *ofzpost :48 and sleeve 54.

Plate Etc-isiprdv-ided with' a series of elongated slots '51 through which extend suitable lbolt semblies 58 for securing seat 22 to the "seat base 25. any other suitable method ofsecuring seat 2:2 to theseatba-se may b'eused; i

' Web is apertured at 'one side-at t med at 'thataperture With all-integral hollow boss 6 I- proj ects laterallyand radially from sleeve 5:4; outer end surface ;of boss fliis" 7 forme as aninclined cam face 62 'for 'a purpose later to be des'cribed.

Jidiacent boss fi'fL seat-base flange 56 i formed with-a deperr" 'ngaperturedlugtti An elongated locking rod 6 dle 5 at its outer end; rotat'ably and slidably supported at its l g-life and ss ,1. it l .t

i cci st 'a'r'riesfa rigiddiani'e'tral pints: which p ot ct spring fi 'rsur rounds rods: and is compressed betwe'en'the inner s riaceoriihr ts "an-(11pm Sp'rlhg'fi! thereby 'reactsjagaiiistfthe seat aseitd.

hernia-11y urg rod 64 axiaiiyj nwariily "toward post 48 and'h'i am'tai in it in pro e engage Seat'b'as'effiflandpost EB are so; caopera'tivekv formed that "When seat '22 is facing-the vhiicle.

control atithe frontof :the'vehicle as -irifF iaure i 1 'rodffid'iis aligned with aperture 53 oifil bsft I8,

, forrned with a laterally bent ham" inner end by passing "through E I fo'ne' sidea substantial distance from the rod to lie "along "ca-mfface 52; ,A suitable 'coil and spring 161 urgesthe ti l na ta r rod s4 en. aperture 53 to thereby .lock sea t [25 dividually owned, this adjustment is. probably never altered during the life of,.the truck This adjustment can, however. be'change'd atfany' time whether the seat is mounted on the pedestal or removed therefrom. Y

With the pedestal clamped in the socket, fseat base 25, with a suitable seat attached, is dropped directly'upon upstanding post 46, substantially the entire weight being borne-by thrust face Thrust face 5i and the lower end face of sleeve 5% may be machined and if necessary lubricated to provide a good sliding bearing contact. In this manner the whole seat chair unit including. the seat base is maintained by its weight on the pedestal and supported for rotation about a vertical axis on the pedestal. The seat unit may be removed readily from the pedestal merely by lifting it upwardly, with looking rod 6d disengaged from aperture 53. i

When the seat is in the position illustrated in Figure l with the seateddriver facing the vehicle controls in position to operate them, looking rod t l carried by the seat base extends laterally inwardly of the vehicle at right angles to its longitudinal center line and handle 65 is conveniently accessible to the right hand of the seated driver.-

In this position the seat is locked to the pedestal by reason of projection of rod 64 into aperture 53 as above described.

When the driver wishes to dismount from the vehicle or gain access to rear loading floor l'l, his

right hand grasps handle 65 and pulls it upwardly in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 3) for less than a quarter of the turn. This movement of handle 65 rotates rod 64 about its axis and simultaneously rod M is axially displaced radially outwardly from post 48 against the force of spring 61 because pin 66 follows inclined cam face 62. By the time pin 66 reaches a high point of cam face 62, tip end 68 of the rod has been entirely withdrawn from aperture 53 and seat base 25 is now free to rotate about post 48.

This rotation may be easily efiected by move-- ment of the drivers body as he swings his feet away from the controls and towards the side doorway l2 of Figure 1. After the seat has swung abouta quarter of a turn toward the doorway, the drivers legs are suspended over floor l3 and he is enabled to drop from the seat directly to full standing position on floor l3 from which he may either gain access to the rear of the body or step directly out of the vehicle. In this manner, .the driver is enabled to dismount from driving position with a minimum of efiort since no upward or inward steps within the vehicle are involved. This appreciably cuts down his fatigue during the day and increases his eficiency. 7

As soon as handle 65 has been turned sufiiand the seat has been slightly rotated, thev han-c dle may be released by the driver. Spring 61 now urges the rod back toward post 48. By this'time, however, the seat base has. rotated sufiiciently that rod 65 is no longer aligned with aperture 53 and the tip end 68 of rod 64 now abuts agains cylindrical outer surface 52 of post 48.

The force of springifi'lis preferably chosen such that this engagement of tipend. 68 of the rod and surface 52 'issufiicientjto frictionally: maintain the seat in practically any position ofrotation desired by the driver during normal range of rotationof the seat on the pedestal. For example, when the driver is dismounting from the vehicle, as above described, this fric-' tional engagement of the rod and post maintains seat'22 facing doorway 12, so that when the driverreenters the vehicle he may merely turn to seat himself and then swing a quarter of a turn into driving position without taking another step within the vehicle. i

As the driver swings the seat into driving position, rod end 63 travels along cylindrical surface 52. 'When seat 22 reaches its forward position facing the controls, rod 64 is aligned with aperture 53 into which its tip end 88 is immediately projected by the action of'spring 61, thereby automatically relocking the seat base to the pedestal and maintaining'the seat in the driving position. The inward axial movement of rod 64 when aligned with aperture 53 is not hampered by cam -face62 as it is so steeply inclined that pin 66 merely slides along that face. Reverse rotation of rod 64 during its locking thrust has no efiect on its axial movement and merely returns handle 65' to its normal initial position. r

Our novel seat assembly is therefore located in a convenient position within the vehicle enabling the driver to easily and speedily seat himself at the controls or dismount therefrom with a minimum of effort. The seat is auto need not awkwardly twist his body in order to get into the seat.

Furthermore, the above described seat assembly is sturdy but simple and economical in construction and practically fool-proof in operation.

Worn parts may be speedily replaced and the whole seat and seat base unit may be removed for repair and like purposes merely by unlocking rod 64.

Further embodiment .Figures 7-9 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention wherein seat base 25' is provided with a depending lug 69 which cooperates with an aligned aperture II in seat base sleeve 54 to rotatably and slidably support the inner end of a locking rod 12 having an integral handle 13.

Lug 69 projects laterally outwardly beyond the edge of the seat base and is formed along its outer end surface with an inclined cam face .13. A cam block 14, rigidly secured to rod 12 as by welding, is formed with an inclined cam face "l5 adapted to lie along cam face 73.

Adjacent its inner end, rod 12 is provided with m a rigid diametrical pin it. A coiled spring 11, surrounding rod 12 and compressed between pin 16 and the inner face of lug 69, normally urges essential characteristics thereof.

rod." axiallycinwardly toward post 48 Spring ML-also maintains cam faces'lS and 15 engagement. 'I Y l jRod'IZ is located on the seat base similarly to rod64, so that when handle 13 is pulled up- 'wardly (clockwise in Figure 9) rod 12 is displaced axially outwardly by. the, action of cam faces 73 and I5 and vagainst the force of spring 11, to withdraw the tip end of .rod 12 from post aperture 53 and thereby'zrender the seat base'free for rotation upon post 48. t

,1 -Block 14 is provided with a rigid pin 'lfljhaving abevelled end-face 19 adapted to engage the lower surface of seat base 25' and act .as a stop toglirnit rotation of handle 13 to prevent revolution of cam face 15. beyond the high pointof maximum outward displacement of rod 12.". This prevents accidental re-engagement of the rod in aperture 53.

,Otherwise the operation of the embodiment of Figures 7-9, including its automatic relocking function, is substantially the same as thatdescribed, in Figures 1-6 above. t

q The invention may be embodied in other spe- 1. In a vehicle seat' assembly a vertically rigid tion of the base to a 'predetermined'position on pedestal, a seat base rotatably mounted on said pedestal, a locking rod rotatably and slidably mounted on said seat base, a spring normally urging said rod into engagement with a'cooperating part of said pedestal to lock the."seat base to the pedestal, a cam, on said seat base and a cam'follower on said rod, said cam and follower causing axial displacement of said rod away from said pedestal upon rotation .of'said rodl'in' apredetermineddirection;

2. In a driverssea-t assembly, a rigid pedes-.- tal, a seat baserotatably supported on said pedestal, a spring loadedlocking rod rotatably and s'lidably mounted' on said seat base and having' I an inner endfladaptedjto project into, an aper ture into said pedestal for locking "the seat base to said pedestal in a predetermined position of rotation, cooperating cam faces on said seat base" and rod for causing axial displacement of said rod upon rotation thereof to withdraw said rod' from said aperture and permit free rotation of the seat base on the pedestal, and means limiting such rotation of said rod.

3.1m a vehicle seat'assembly, a pedestal having a cylindricalpostprovided with an external surface recess, a seat base rotatable on said post, a, locking rod rotatably and slidably carried by said base, a spring normally urging said rod toward saidpost, a cam formed on said base and a cam follower on said rod, said spring maintaining said follower and cam engaged, and said cam and spring being designed to permit the tip end of said rod to enter said recess upon rotasaid pedestal.

' HENRY v. HEDEEN.

CARL'HEDEEN. v I 

